Despite the lamentation of patients, the conciliation meeting between the Federal Government and resident doctors currently on indefinite strike has ended in deadlock.
After about 5 hours of meeting, the striking doctors refused to show up for the second phase of the meeting, after the meeting went into a recess for parties to come up with their resolutions.
President of the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, Aliyu Sokomba when asked why his members walked out insists that the strike will be suspended only after tangible evidence is placed on the table to address their demands.
Sokomba who disappeared spoke to journalist via the telephone, where he said if their demands are met in the next 24 hours the strike will be suspended.
The minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige, who led the Federal Government delegation, which comprised of the minister of health, Osagie Ehinare, the minister of state for health, Mamoara and the minister of state for labour and employment, Festus Keyamu said far reaching decisions were agreed on resolving the situation.
The Federal Government is, however, not taking this lightly as the minister of health has threatened to sack the doctors who have vowed to continue the strike action.
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Meanwhile, the joint health sector unions is threatening to downtools over inconsistencies in the circular issued for the payment of COVID-19 hazard allowance.
The Federal Government had promised to start payment of 2 months from last week, but both the striking doctors and other health workers have revealed that they are yet to receive any alert.
The outbreak of COVID-19 in Nigeria has further stretched the country’s already overburdened health care system, making it imperative for health workers and the government to urgently work to prevent any breakdown in the system
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
